refined...

adjective.
free from coarseness or vulgarity; polite.
free from impurities; purified.
precise to a fine degree.

Just something I scraped out of an illustration from this morning...

Apparently, the more refined gold is, the weaker it is. Pure equals malleable. If a gold band is stronger, it means more alloy. It's value decreases with strength and increases with weakness. Strange that we should consider this so valuable. A steel band is strong, but carries no glory.

We too, are called to be pure.

refiner's fire, my heart's one desire
is to be holy, set apart for you, Lord
ready to do your will

This means that we are called to be vulnerable. To be malleable. To be beautiful and meaningful, but not strong because of our own chemistry. Think about it. Are you aware of what you're asking Him to do? Are you who He wants you to be? He has not called the strong or brilliant, He has called those the world calls weak and foolish.

refine me.